Heart rate spikes when wearing a mask

Has anyone else noticed a measurable HR spike when wearing a mask? During runs I don my mask when I approach other runners or walkers. Once I'm a safe distance away I doff the mask. My VO2 max has dropped in the last few months despite a consistent training regime. In reviewing my HR data on Connect I've noticed spikes of 10-20 BPM for brief periods during runs. Once I was aware of the issue I started paying attention to when I donned and doffed my mask. The spikes correlated consistently. Not a huge deal but enough to throw my VO2 numbers off. It also seems to be higher than I think is an actual HR for me. I've had spikes as high as 210-214 during a moderate workout. Running a pace that, for me, would normally be a tempo run with a HR of 170-180.

Top Replies

All Replies

0 Crow187 over 4 years ago

I have not recognized similar heart rate changes although I do the same as you. I only wear a light fabric mask, no ffp2...

Maybe the sensor reads wrong data, caused by the position of your arm while applying the mask?

0 C.sco over 4 years ago

I haven't noticed this, but I guess it's possible that a mask kind of acts like an altitude training mask, at least to a small extent.

0 Fursty_Ferret over 4 years ago

As you raise your hands to your face to mess around with your mask then the already ropey heart rate monitor in the watch will drift onto your cadence. Have you tried it with a chest strap or proper optical HRM?

0 Sandworm over 4 years ago

Hm, what if one of the reasons this happens is that you get this "fear" when you wear masks? The fear of getting the virus, the fear of having your mouth in a closed environment, not being able to breath properly or perhaps you may have some health problem that you didn't diagnose yet? I recommend going to the doctor just to be sure everything is fine. This, fortunately, doesn't happen when I wear the N95 masks I bought online, probably because they are built better, are of better quality and hold many advantages over the masks the government issues. Have you tried different types of masks? If you're interested, here's a link: https://pandemicpal.net/n95-masks-coronavirus-covid-19/.

0 mcalista over 4 years ago

It's not exactly a surprise that trying to breathe through a mask while doing a demanding aerobic activity such as a tempo run results in an HR spike.

0 subra over 4 years ago

Some athletes use nasal strips to spread the nostrils and improve oxygen uptake. A mask has the opposite effect and worsens breathing and thus oxygen uptake.

The muscles signal the brain that more oxygen is needed. But the oxygen saturation of the blood is reduced by the mask. Therefore, the brain tries to compensate by increasing the heart rate.

Jeff1229 said:
I've had spikes as high as 210-214 during a moderate workout.

That's my guess, but spikes of 210-214 bpm are very high, and that seems to be also another reason.

0 -- over 4 years ago in reply to Fursty_Ferret

I use a chest strap always and while donning a mask my HR used to drop because I slowed down for it, and ran slower with it. These days, if I can't keep the required distance, I hold my breath and increase my pace while passing people. That results in little HR peaks. It's become such an automated habit that I'm probably going to have a breathtaking experience during the first mass running event I'll participate in.